Law Enforcement Technical Advisor, Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Rep. of Congo

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity.

WCS Congo is one of the largest programs in the Wildlife Conservation Society network, with a particular focus on protected area management, effective law enforcement, research and monitoring, and capacity building

About the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park

The Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (NNNP) covers over 4,000km² of contiguous lowland rainforest in the northern Republic of Congo, harboring important populations of large mammals including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees. It is arguably the best example of an intact forest ecosystem remaining in the Congo Basin – the Park has never been logged, contains no settlements or roads within its borders and still harbors wildlife populations deep within its interior that have had little or no contact with humans. Created in 1993, the NNNP and its buffer zone has benefited from almost 20 years of collaborative management between the Congolese Government and the Wildlife Conservation Society to emerge today as one of the most important protected areas for the conservation of great apes, elephants, and other wildlife in Central Africa.

Job Summary:

The Anti-Poaching Technical Advisor supports the NNNP’s Conservator in coordinating law enforcement operations to halt the current and future threats facing the Park and its immediate periphery. 

There are several core features to the Park’s existing law enforcement strategy: reconnaissance patrolling and intervention operations led by rangers; aerial surveillance from the project’s aircraft; a strong emphasis on intelligence collection by the rangers and the Wildlife Crime Unit; and a communications infrastructure and information management system. 

A secondary role is to development projects proposals geared to bring in new technologies or infrastructure to support the law enforcement operation.

She or he will be directly responsible for a small team of law enforcement assistants (the anti-poaching department’s technical support team) that help run the Park’s command and control centre which ensures an effective coordination and monitoring of law enforcement. .  

Major Responsibilities:

Law enforcement operations

• Direct and manage the anti-poaching department’s technical support team, which includes the Control Room operators, the patrol analyst (SMART focal point), the eastern sector’s anti-poaching assistant and the WCU-NNNP intelligence analyst.

• Work in close collaboration with the Park’s Conservator, Sector Wardens and the technical support team to develop and implement a law enforcement strategy able to counter the evolving threats to the Park. 

• Directly support the Park’s Conservator in all aspects of human resources within the anti-poaching department – including ranger recruitment, career development opportunities, incentive schemes and disciplinary issues.

• Plan, organise and support ranger-training programmes with external consultants.

Intelligence and Information Management

• Ensure that law enforcement data/information systems are well maintained and secure. Develop ways to better analyse and exploit law enforcement data and intelligence collect by the Park’s rangers.

• Ensure that intelligence gained from the rangers is collated and diffused/developed with the Wildlife Crime Unit in a timely manner. Intelligence received from the WCU and other partners should be analysed and exploited where appropriate.

• Work with the support team in providing rigorous monitoring and evaluation of the Park’s law enforcement effort and effectiveness.

Security, Logistics, Communications and infrastructure

• Work with the Park’s Logistics department to ensure that Law Enforcement sites are secure and possess the means to allow for the rangers to carry out their mission: access restrictions in place, security lighting, barriers, high visibility

• Ensure that the Park’s ranger contingent are well equipped for patrolling activities, and put in place a procurement plan to ensure that the ranger kit stocks are sufficient to replace faulty or worn items.

• Ensure the Park’s communications systems are well maintained and operational (satellite trackers, radios and Internet systems)

• Assist the Park’s Logistics department in the planning and development of Law Enforcement infrastructure.

Reporting and fundraising

• Work with the Conservator and Director to develop annual work plans.

• Develop proposals to fundraise for activities and development improving the effectiveness of the law enforcement operation.

• Reporting duties - several donors require regular written reports on NNNPs law enforcement activities.

Minimum Requirements:

• Able and willing to work in an isolated location with basic living conditions.
• Driven, motivated and passionate about conservation and wilderness areas.
• A “doer” – someone who is resourceful and hands on.
• A “generalist” – someone who can pick up a wide range of concepts and skills including conservation technology, intelligence and investigations, criminology and anti-trafficking, judicial issues, paramilitary concepts & practices, community-based policing, logistics, telecommunications and data management systems.
• Good physical condition
• Able to manage stress well, remain cool-headed, with good sense of diplomacy.
• Thrive in a diverse multi-cultural team that is a mix of expatriates and Congolese nationals
• The operational language is French - ability to speak some French from the outset is an advantage. A willingness to learn French quickly is essential.
• Proposal and report writing
• Team and project management skills
• Technically minded; able to learn quickly and use a diverse range of ICT tools (cartography, SMART, intelligence tools), able to learn about telecommunications including VSAT, radios and other networks

Preferred Requirements:

• Bachelor Degree or Masters in Conservation or similar subject
• Extensive conservation experience is preferred. Practical experience in logistics including construction, electrics or mechanics is advantageous.

Application Process:

Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should apply by sending an application letter and CV together to the address below no later than April 22, 2019. Please include “Law Enforcement Technical Advisor” in the subject line of your email. Send to: wcscongobrazza@wcs.org.      

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.